Plan a seasonal escape somewhere snowy, to get you into the festive spirit...
WORDS: LAURA MILLAR.
Walk through a fairy-tale snowscape in Bavaria
While we can’t always guarantee a white Christmas in the UK, you’ll marvel at the beautiful snowy scenes in Bavaria, southern Germany. Take a walking trip around the lakeland and woodland trails of the Königswinkel region, where you’ll enjoy the stunning landscapes around the pretty medieval town of Füssen, with views that inspired Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. You’ll encounter snow-capped mountain peaks, ice-frosted forests and glittering fairy-tale castles such as Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau and Linderhof. There’s also a visit to the charming village of Oberammergau, famed for its Easter Passion Play and ‘Lüftlmalerei’, a form of mural art used to make trompe l’oeil facades on the front of houses.
How to do it: A seven-night, full-board holiday with Ramblers Walking Holidays starts at £1,399 per person including return flights from the UK and all local transport; ramblersholidays.co.uk.
See Santa in Finnish Lapland
Go in search of Santa at Rovaniemi, the picturesque capital of Finnish Lapland and the official residence of Mr Claus himself. Nestled between two scenic lakes in Rovaniemi is the beautiful Apukka Resort, where you can enjoy a trip that takes you in search of the Christmas spirit. Whether you’re travelling with kids or are still a kid at heart yourself, there are plenty of activities to get you in the festive mood, from building snowmen to tobogganing down hills or trying cross-country skiing. There’s also the chance to spot the Aurora Borealis, with a Northern Lights hunt by snow train through the wilderness. The best part has to be a visit by reindeer-pulled sleigh to Santa’s Hidden Hut, where his jolly elves will greet you with Christmas songs, hot drinks and cookies – and some one-on-one time with the bearded man himself.
How to do it: A four-night ‘In the Search of the Christmas Spirit’ package starts at £1,354 per person, including various activities; apukkaresort.fi. Return flights from London to Rovaniemi start at £237; finnair.com.
Go husky-sledding in Swedish Lapland
Throw yourself into all the winter activities this stunning region has to offer. In the snowy wilds of Swedish Lapland, you can experience a range of seasonal excursions, from husky sledding and guided snowmobiling to ice fishing and snowshoe hikes. Based at Brändön Lodge, overlooking
